This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/30/2014 11:00 PMThe winter season for the Guilford Indians was filled with many memorable feats, including a girls' ice hockey team that reached the State Tournament final, a boys' basketball squad that won 17 games, and a fencing squad that saw its girls take home their second state crown in three years.
Girls' Fencing
After a regular campaign that saw all three Indians' squads go undefeated as hosts, Kyle Mezzi's team then hosted the Team State Championship on March 8. At that meet, Guilford's foil and épée groups earned state crowns to give the girls their second overall state title in three years. The Indians were led by a three-year varsity starter in senior captain foilist Charlotte Killiam, who collected First Team All-State accolades. Rounding out the productive senior class were foilist Kate Macy, épéeist Bronwyn Reeve (First Team All-State), sabre competitor Kate McNamara (Second Team All-State), and Kate Nolan. The remainder of the Indians' All-State fencers included First Team foilist Laurel Zhang, along with Second Team sabre combatant Sophie Kaplan
Boys' Fencing
Like the girls' squad, the Indians' boys also went undefeated at home during the regular season, after which the Indians sent their foil and sabre squads to the Team State Championship, which was held at Guilford. Veteran utility man Niall Kneerim was a senior captain for Kyle Mezzi's club and also contributing as a senior was foilist/sabrist Ben Eng. Guilford's additional All-State competitors were First Team members in foilists Kyle Evered and Jack Davidson, as well as Second Team sabre fencer Zach O' Conner, plus foilist Henry Wall.
Girls' Ice Hockey
The Indians finished with a mark of 12-6 to clinch a spot in the SCC Division I Tournament, where it fell to East Catholic 2-1 in the semifinals. Guilford then rebounded in the State Tournament as it scored a big 2-1 overtime upset of top-seeded Darien in the semifinal round to reach the championship contest before the Indians lost a hard-fought effort to No. 2 seed Simsbury, 3-1, in the final at Ingalls Rink. Leading the way for Guilford (coached by Gil Schaper) were seniors in assistant captain Zoe Bosenburg and Angelica Hurteau, each of whom were forwards. For the junior class, the Indians boasted another pair of leaders in forward/captain Nicole Raccuia and assistant captain/utility player Katherine Rosadini.
Boys' Ice Hockey
The Indians finished 5-15 on the year, led by senior captain/forward Carson Sperry (co-Sportsmanship Award). Guilford had additional senior leaders in defenseman Brian Donohue (Connecticut All-Star Senior Game selection, All-SCC Team); forward Derek Batick (Coaches' Award); and netminder Hunter Martins (Team MVP, Hobey Baker Character Award). Additional production came from a strong underclass that included junior forward Jack Petrick (CHSCA Junior All-Star Game selection), sophomore defenseman Evan Powell, along with freshman goalie Kyle Dwyer and sophomore forward Alex Corso.
Boys' Basketball
After Jeff DeMaio's Indians completed one of the best regular season marks in program history at 16-4, Guilford returned to the SCC Tournament for the first time since 2002 and scored its first victory in the league bracket since that year by a 53-35 home decision over Shelton. The Indians then gave state top 10 foe Cross all it could handle in the quarterfinals before a six-point loss. Guilford (No. 7 seed in the Class L Division) concluded the season with a 71-56 state tournament first round defeat to No. 26 Darien. The Indians powered to the fifth-best mark in the SCC with a strong senior class, led off by captain and forward Luke Dombroski (All-SCC Hammonasset Team, New Haven County Tap Off Club Team, All-State All-Star Festival Game selection); alongside guard Will Cofrances (also an All-SCC Hammonasset Team member), forward J.P. Barrett, guard Mike Afeltra, forward Ian Robinson, center Nick Rubino, and guard/forward Wyatt Vilaseca.
Girls' Basketball
The Indians, led by Head Coach Bob Welsh, finished the regular season with a mark of 8-12, taking three straight victories over Foran, Law, and Cross in a five-day run to reach the SCC and state tournaments for the second straight campaign before Guilford lost in the opening round of both to Hillhouse and Lyman Hall, respectively. Guilford (8-14 overall) was led into competition by senior co-captains with guard Presley Altieri (All-SCC Hammonasset Team) and forward Tori Loukakes. Welsh's group had additional senior sparks from guards Nikki Basilicato, Kylie Craig, and forward Morgan King.
Wrestling
Craig Vedrani's Indians were sixth at the SCC Championship before coming in eighth at the Class M state meet. At SCCs, sophomore Colin Rook (126) and junior Jake Lundberg (152) captured conference crowns, after which Rook claimed a state championship. In addition to those two, senior tri-captain Brandon Hallaway (138) and sophomore Andrew Ignoto (120) qualified for the State Open. Guilford's other two captains were seniors C.J. Anthony and Josh Malamud, plus other seniors were Kyle Bianchi and Joe Zilinski.
Girls' Indoor Track
Jon Faitsch's girls' team came in 14th at the SCC Championship and then placed 15th for the Class M State Championship. At the state meet, senior Sofia Moscovitz was runner-up in the pole vault and thus qualified for the State Open. Additional seniors for the girls were Claire Weil and Gabi Sejourne.
Boys' Indoor Track
Guilford posted a 16th-place showing at the Class M State Championship. Jon Faitsch's senior class featured Anthony Benoit, Ian Connell, Tim Kenefick, Ben Moskow, Lee Owens, Austin Sattler, and Sal Siciliano (who made the State Open for the 1,600).
Skiing
Led by Rolf Meyer as head coach, the Indians finished 11-14 on the year after winning three matchups in their final meet of the season on Feb. 24.